Gift of God

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

About a week ago I had read a post “The five steps to salvation.” It listed 5 needed steps for salvation. Of course my mind went into overdrive. I looked on the internet on salvation, turned to my bible and simply prayed to God about it. To my understanding, one needed to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior into our hearts and lives. Second we need to repent. Perhaps with life I have become a bit jaded, but anyone can say that Jesus is their Lord and Savior…Any one can become baptized reclaiming a new beginning…Anyone can “repent”… The bible tells us to give secretly, to pray secretly, to serve and focus on others. We are also told that God knows the secrets of our hearts. I believe when we truly give ourselves to Jesus, and begin loving, living and serving like Jesus, then it will be clear where our hearts are, and who receives all the Glory.

We cannot save ourselves because there is no self-salvation. So here we are – we fail, but God excels. Salvation is a God-originated, God-Driven, God-Empowered and God-given. This, salvation, is a gift from God, not a gift from man to God.

·         Ephesians 2:8 (ESV) “For by grace you have been salved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

·         Romans 6:23 (ESV) “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

·         John 3:16 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Though we may have differing views and opinions on the “requirements” of salvation, it is clear that Salvation comes directly from God in heaven. Though we may jump through hoops, or take the needed “steps” to salvation, we needed to realize the important aspect of this – There. Is. No. Self. Salvation. It. Is. God. Given.

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